Howard County, Texas Income Statistics
Howard County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Howard County Well below averageLess wealthy than 82% of counties in Texas
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Howard County | Texas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $69,578 | $78,939 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $55,666 | $56,913 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.9% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 11.5% | 13.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.3% | 12.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Howard County is about 12% lower than in Texas. Income has been growing slower in Howard County (3.9%/yr) than in Texas (4.6%/yr).
About 11% of adults in Howard County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Texas average of 13%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Howard County, Texas grew by 89.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $69,578 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Howard County
| Metric | Howard County | Texas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.608 | 0.570 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $73,294 | $66,147 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $46,677 | $53,058 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 36.3% | 19.8% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Howard County, it is 0.608, higher than Texas's 0.570, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 57% more than women's income in Howard County, Texas. Over a 35-year career, a 57% wage gap accumulates to roughly $931,595 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Howard County, Texas has widened from about 26% to 36% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 45% in 2020, and was narrowest at 23% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $16,754 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Howard County | Texas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4% | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 3.0% | 14.4% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 13 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 766 people are unemployed in Howard County, Texas.
The average commute time in Howard County is 13 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Texas.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Howard County, Texas has fallen from 8.1% to 5.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 5.0% in 2023.
Howard County, TX Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Howard County, TX is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 32,290 residents against a local median of 1,468. The measure that sets Howard County, TX apart most is unemployment: 5.4%, 150% above the local median of 2.1%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 4.4% on unemployment, so Howard County, TX sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Howard County, TX has the 5th lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard County, TX | 32,290 | $69,578 #4/6 | 3.9%/yr #4/6 | 5.4% #5/6 | 0.608 #4/6 |
| Borden County, TX | 713 | $71,015 | -0.6%/yr | 1.0% | 0.578 |
| Glasscock County, TX | 1,068 | $101,630 | 5.9%/yr | 1.0% | 0.528 |
| Mitchell County, TX | 9,018 | $60,679 | 1.8%/yr | 5.3% | 0.651 |
| Martin County, TX | 5,218 | $89,384 | 4.4%/yr | 5.4% | 0.608 |
| Sterling County, TX | 1,468 | $69,166 | 5.1%/yr | 2.1% | 0.593 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Howard County, Texas has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Texas, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Howard County, Texas.
How Rich Is Howard County, Texas?
Howard County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $69,578, about 12% lower than the Texas average of $78,939.
How fast is household income rising in Howard County, Texas?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Howard County, Texas rose 89%, from $36,787 to $69,578. Over the same years, income here outpaced Texas as a whole: +89% against +64%.
What was the median household income in Howard County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Howard County, Texas was $71,720, up 4% from $68,865 in 2022. The Texas median that year was $76,528.
What was the median household income in Howard County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Howard County, Texas was $57,562. By 2024 it had risen 21% to $69,578.
What is the Gini coefficient in Howard County, Texas?
The Gini coefficient in Howard County is 0.608. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Howard County, Texas?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Howard County, Texas has widened from about 26% to 36% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 45% in 2020, and was narrowest at 23% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $16,754 since 2009.
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